Film Forum Honoring Legendary Cinematographer Gabriel Figueroa

While the name Gabriel Figueroa may not be a familiar one to many, even those with a stronger affinity for filmmaking and the art behind it, New York’s own Film Forum is hoping to change that.

On June 5, the theater began a career spanning retrospective surrounding the work of iconic cinematographer and Mexican film industry legend Gabriel Figueroa. Taking a look at 19 of the photographer’s films, the series is running in conjunction with the new exhibition at El Museo del Barrio, entitled Under The Mexican Sky: Gabriel Figueroa – Art And Film. 

Best known as a pioneer of Mexican cinema, primarily with his work alongside director Emilio Fernandez, Figueroa’s work was as varied as they come. His work with Fernandez is without a doubt this retrospective’s highlight, particularly films like Wildflower. One of the many times Mexican cinema’s “Big Four” worked together, the film saw the team of Fernandez and Figueroa tap Pedro Armedariz and Dolores del Rio as a landowner and peasant girl respectively, in this tale of star crossed love. Other highlights of this portion of the retrospective include the musical/soap opera/noir film Victims of Sin which is being introduced by scholar Eddie Muller, as well as the film Maria Candelaria, which won Figueroa a prize at the Cannes Film Festival, and is another teaming of “The Big Four.” Nominated every year for the Ariel Award (consider it Mexico’s equivalent to the Academy Award) from 1946-1954, with seven times taking home the award for Best Cinematography, Figueroa was one of the most dominate and influential photographers in any given nation’s cinematic landscape. And finally he’s getting the career spanning retrospective a talent like that deserves.

Other highlights showing the photographer’s talents include his John Ford film, the underrated The Fugitive, John Huston’s Criterion-approved Under The Volcano, Huston’s should-be-Criterion-approved Night Of The Iguana, and two Bunuel masterpieces, Los Olvidados and Nazarin. As a fan of many of the films Figueroa shot with larger names outside of the world of Mexican cinema, this writer will be coming for the films like Two Mules For Sister Sara, but will be staying for the journey into the heart of Mexican genre cinema.

The retrospective runs until June 18. Here’s the full lineup and showtimes:

Public Screening Schedule (all separate admissions)

JUNE 5 FRI
ENAMORADA (1946, Emilio Fernández) 35mm
Pedro Armendáriz, María Félix
12:30, 4:45, 9:05

MARÍA CANDELARIA (1943, Emilio Fernández)
16mm print courtesy Museum of Modern Art
Dolores del Río, Pedro Armendáriz
2:30, 7:00

JUNE 6 SAT
ENAMORADA (1946, Emilio Fernández) 35mm
12:30, 9:20

ANOTHER DAWN (Distinto amanecer, 1943, Julio Bracho) 35mm
Pedro Armendáriz, Andrea Palma
2:30

VICTIMS OF SIN (Victimas del pecado, 1951, Emilio Fernández) 35mm
Ninón Sevilla, Rodolfo Acosta, Pérez Prado
4:50 ONLY
Introduced by Eddie Muller, founder of the Film Noir Foundation and host of TCM’s “Summer of Darkness”

JUNE 7 SUN
MARÍA CANDELARIA (1943, Emilio Fernández) 16mm
1:00

ENAMORADA (1946, Emilio Fernández) 35mm
7:00, 9:00

JUNE 9 TUE
PEDRO PÁRAMO (1966, Carlos Velo) 35mm
Carlos Fernández, John Gavin
12:30, 4:45, 9:10

THE FUGITIVE (1947, John Ford) 35mm
Henry Fonda, Pedro Armendáriz
2:40, 7:00

JUNE 10 WED
ANOTHER DAWN (Distinto amanecer, 1943, Julio Bracho) 35mm
12:30, 4:45, 9:10

PUEBLERINA (1948, Emilio Fernández) 35mm
Roberto Cañedo, Columbia Domínguez 2:40, 7:00

JUNE 11 THU
WILDFLOWER (Flor silvestre, 1943, Emilio Fernández) 35mm
Pedro Armendáriz, Dolores del Río
12:30, 4:35, 8:40

UNDER THE VOLCANO (1984, John Huston) 35mm
Albert Finney, Anthony Andrews, Jacqueline Bisset
2:25, 6:30

JUNE 12 FRI
THE PEARL (1947, Emilio Fernández) 35mm
Pedro Armendáriz
12:30, 4:00, 7:30

LOS OLVIDADOS (1950, Luis Buñuel) 35mm
Roberto Cobo
2:15, 5:45

UNDER THE VOLCANO (1984, John Huston) 35mm
9:15

JUNE 13 SAT
THE PEARL (1947, Emilio Fernández) 35mm
12:30, 4:00

LOS OLVIDADOS (1950, Luis Buñuel) 35mm
2:15, 8:15, 10:00

THE NIGHT OF THE IGUANA (1964, John Huston) 35mm
Richard Burton, Ava Gardner, Deborah Kerr, Sue Lyon
5:45
Introduced by JAMES GRISSOM, author of FOLLIES OF GOD: TENNESSEE WILLIAMS AND THE WOMEN OF THE FOG

JUNE 14 SUN
THE NIGHT OF THE IGUANA (1964, John Huston) 35mm
1:10

MACARIO (1959, Roberto Gavaldón) 35mm
Ignacio López Tarso, Pina Pellicer
3:40, 7:30

RÍO ESCONDIDO (1947, Emilio Fernández) 35mm
María Félix
5:30, 9:20

JUNE 15 MON
MACARIO (1959, Roberto Gavaldón) 35mm
12:30, 4:25, 8:20

ROSA BLANCA (1961, Roberto Gavaldón) 35mm
Ignacio López Tarso
2:20, 6:15, 10:10

JUNE 16 TUE
TWO MULES FOR SISTER SARA (1970, Don Siegel) 35mm
Clint Eastwood, Shirley MacLaine
12:30, 4:30, 8:35

LOS OLVIDADOS (1950, Luis Buñuel) 35mm
2:45

NAZARÍN (1958, Luis Buñuel) 35mm print courtesy Harvard Film Archive
Francisco Rabal
6:45 ONLY

JUNE 17 WED
SALÓN MÉXICO (1949, Emilio Fernández) 35mm
Marga López, Rodolfo Acosta, Miguel Inclán
12:30, 4:25, 8:20

RÍO ESCONDIDO (1947, Emilio Fernández) 35mm
María Félix
2:25, 6:20, 10:15

JUNE 18 THU (Separate Admission)
THE PEARL (1947, Emilio Fernández) 35mm
12:40

AUTUMN DAYS (Días de otoño, 1962, Roberto Gavaldón) 35mm
Pina Pellicer
2:30, 4:30, 7:00

ENAMORADA (1946, Emilio Fernández) 35mm
9:00